Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2011 / Proposed Rules 67625 

J. Review Under the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 2001 

Section 515 of the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516, note) 

provides for agencies to review most 

disseminations of information to the 

public under guidelines established by 

each agency pursuant to general 

guidelines issued by OMB. OMB’s 

guidelines were published at 67 FR 

8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE’s 

guidelines were published at 67 FR 

62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed 

today’s notice under the OMB and DOE 

guidelines and has concluded that it is 

consistent with applicable policies in 

those guidelines. 

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211 

Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions 

Concerning Regulations That 

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May 

22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to 

prepare and submit to OIRA at OMB, a 

Statement of Energy Effects for any 

proposed significant energy action. A 

‘‘significant energy action’’ is defined as 

any action by an agency that 

promulgates or is expected to lead to 

promulgation of a final rule, and that (1) 

is a significant regulatory action under 

Executive Order 12866, or any successor 

order; and (2) is likely to have a 

significant adverse effect on the supply, 

distribution, or use of energy; or (3) is 

designated by the Administrator of 

OIRA as a significant energy action. For 

any proposed significant energy action, 

the agency must give a detailed 

statement of any adverse effects on 

energy supply, distribution, or use 

should the proposal be implemented, 

and of reasonable alternatives to the 

action and their expected benefits on 

energy supply, distribution, and use. 

DOE has concluded that today’s 

regulatory action, which would delete 

requirements to provide a credit rating 

or other credit assessment as part of an 

application for financial assistance or an 

application to enter into a conditional 

agreement to provide standby support 

for certain nuclear plant delays, is not 

a significant energy action because the 

proposed standards are not likely to 

have a significant adverse effect on the 

supply, distribution, or use of energy, 

nor has it been designated as such by 

the Administrator at OIRA. Accordingly, 

DOE has not prepared a Statement of 

Energy Effects for the proposed rule. 

L. Review Under the Information 

Quality Bulletin for Peer Review 

On December 16, 2004, OMB, in 

consultation with the Office of Science 

and Technology (OSTP), issued its Final 

Information Quality Bulletin for Peer 

Review (the Bulletin). 70 FR 2664 (Jan. 

14, 2005). The Bulletin establishes that 

certain scientific information shall be 

peer reviewed by qualified specialists 

before it is disseminated by the Federal 

Government, including influential 

scientific information related to agency 

regulatory actions. The purpose of the 

bulletin is to enhance the quality and 

credibility of the Government’s 

scientific information. DOE has 

determined that today’s proposed rule 

does not contain any influential or 

highly influential scientific information 

that would be subject to the peer review 

requirements of the OMB Bulletin. 

Approval of the Office of the Secretary 

The Secretary of Energy has approved 

publication of this proposed rule. 

List of Subjects 

10 CFR Part 609 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Energy, Loan programs, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

10 CFR Part 950 

Government contracts, Nuclear safety. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 25, 

2011. 

David Frantz, 

Director of the Origination Division of the 

Loan Programs Office. 

John Kelly, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear 

Reactor Technologies. 

For the reasons stated in the 

preamble, DOE proposes to amend Part 

609 of Chapter II and Part 950 of 

Chapter III of Title 10, Code of Federal 

Regulations, to read as set forth below: 

PART 609—LOAN GUARANTEES FOR 

PROJECTS THAT EMPLOY 

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES 

1. The authority citation for part 609 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7254, 16511–16514. 

§ 609.6 [Amended] 

2. Section 609.6 is amended by: 

a. Removing paragraphs (b)(21); 

b. Redesignating paragraphs (b)(22) 

through (b)(29) as (b)(21) through 

(b)(28). 

3. In § 609.8 revise paragraph (a) to 

read as follows: 

§ 609.8 Term sheets and conditional 

commitments. 

(a) DOE, after review and evaluation 

of the Application, additional 

information requested and received by 

DOE, and information obtained as the 

result of meeting with the Applicant 

and the Eligible Lender or other Holder, 

may offer to an Applicant and the 

Eligible Lender or other Holder detailed 

terms and conditions that must be met, 

including terms and conditions that 

must be met by the Applicant and the 

Eligible Lender or other Holder. 

* * * * * 

§ 609.9 [Amended] 

4. Section 609.9 is amended by: 

a. Removing paragraph (f); 

b. Redesignating paragraph (g) as 

paragraph (f). 

PART 950—STANDBY SUPPORT FOR 

CERTAIN NUCLEAR PLANT DELAYS 

5. The authority citation for Part 950 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2201, 42 U.S.C. 7101 

et seq., and 42 U.S.C. 16014. 

6. Section 950.10 is amended by 

revising paragraph (b)(3) to read as 

follows: 

§ 950.10 Conditional agreement. 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(3) A detailed business plan that 

includes intended financing for the 

project including the credit structure 

and all sources and uses of funds for the 

project, and the projected cash flows for 

all debt obligations of the advanced 

nuclear facility which would be covered 

under the Standby Support Contract; 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2011–28242 Filed 11–1–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–1167; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–058–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model 

A319 and A320 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

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67626 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

products listed above. This proposed 

AD results from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority of 

another country to identify and correct 

an unsafe condition on an aviation 

product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 

condition as: 

One operator has reported a torn out 

aspirator following scheduled (for on-ground 

testing purposes) deployment of the Left 

Hand (LH) OWS [off-wing escape slide]. 

Investigations have revealed that the 

aspirator of the off-wing ramp/slide system 

interferes with the extrusion lip of the OWS 

enclosure during the initial stage of the 

deployment sequence. 

This condition, if not corrected, could 

result in both LH and Right Hand (RH) offwing exits being unserviceable which, during 

an emergency, would impair the safe 

evacuation of occupants, possibly resulting 

in personal injuries. 

* * * * * 

The proposed AD would require 

actions that are intended to address the 

unsafe condition described in the MCAI. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by December 19, 

2011. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Airbus, 

Airworthiness Office—EAS, 1 Rond 

Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac 

Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 

96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email 

account.airworth-eas@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com.You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call (425) 227– 

1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Operations 

office (telephone (800) 647–5527) is in 

the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 

be available in the AD docket shortly 

after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1405; fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2011–1167; Directorate Identifier 

2011–NM–058–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD based on those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2010–0210, 

dated October 21, 2010; corrected 

October 27, 2010 (referred to after this 

as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

One operator has reported a torn out 

aspirator following scheduled (for on-ground 

testing purposes) deployment of the Left 

Hand (LH) OWS [off-wing escape slide]. 

Investigations have revealed that the 

aspirator of the off-wing ramp/slide system 

interferes with the extrusion lip of the OWS 

enclosure during the initial stage of the 

deployment sequence. 

This condition, if not corrected, could 

result in both LH and Right Hand (RH) offwing exits being unserviceable which, during 

an emergency, would impair the safe 

evacuation of occupants, possibly resulting 

in personal injuries. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[EASA] AD requires the modification of the 

OWS enclosures on both sides. 

* * * * * 

You may obtain further information by 

examining the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin 

A320–25–1649, dated February 16, 

2010. The actions described in this 

service information are intended to 

correct the unsafe condition identified 

in the MCAI. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to our 

bilateral agreement with the State of 

Design Authority, we have been notified 

of the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI and service information 

referenced above. We are proposing this 

AD because we evaluated all pertinent 

information and determined an unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

MCAI or Service Information 

We have reviewed the MCAI and 

related service information and, in 

general, agree with their substance. But 

we might have found it necessary to use 

different words from those in the MCAI 

to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. 

operators and is enforceable. In making 

these changes, we do not intend to differ 

substantively from the information 

provided in the MCAI and related 

service information. 

We might also have proposed 

different actions in this AD from those 

in the MCAI in order to follow FAA 

policies. Any such differences are 

highlighted in a NOTE within the 

proposed AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

Based on the service information, we 

estimate that this proposed AD would 

affect about 694 products of U.S. 

registry. We also estimate that it would 

take about 14 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. Required 

parts would cost about $0 per product. 

Where the service information lists 

required parts costs that are covered 

under warranty, we have assumed that 

there will be no charge for these parts. 

As we do not control warranty coverage 

for affected parties, some parties may 

incur costs higher than estimated here. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2011 / Proposed Rules 67627 

Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be $825,860, or $1,190 per 

product. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. ‘‘Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs,’’ describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in ‘‘Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: 

General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

Government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and 

3. Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this proposed AD and placed it in the 

AD docket. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

Airbus: Docket No. FAA–2011–1167; 

Directorate Identifier 2011–NM–058–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by 

December 19, 2011. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319– 

111, –112, –113, –114, –115, –131, –132, and 

–133 airplanes; and Model A320–111, –211, 

–212, –214, –231, –232, and –233 airplanes; 

certificated in any category; all manufacturer 

serial numbers; except for airplanes delivered 

with Airbus Modification 30088 on which 

off-wing escape slides (OWS) having part 

numbers (P/N) D31865–111 and P/N 

D31865–112 are installed. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 25: Equipment/Furnishings. 

Reason 

(e) The mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) states: 

One operator has reported a torn out 

aspirator following scheduled (for on-ground 

testing purposes) deployment of the Left 

Hand (LH) OWS [off-wing escape slide]. 

Investigations have revealed that the 

aspirator of the off-wing ramp/slide system 

interferes with the extrusion lip of the OWS 

enclosure during the initial stage of the 

deployment sequence. 

This condition, if not corrected, could 

result in both LH and Right Hand (RH) offwing exits being unserviceable which, during 

an emergency, would impair the safe 

evacuation of occupants, possibly resulting 

in personal injuries. 

* * * * * 

Compliance 

(f) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Actions 

(g) Within 36 months after the effective 

date of this AD, modify both left-hand and 

right-hand OWS enclosures, in accordance 

with the instructions in Airbus Service 

Bulletin A320–25–1649, dated February 16, 

2010. 

Parts Installation 

(h) As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install an OWS having P/N 

D31865–109, P/N D31865–110, P/N D31865– 

209, or P/N D31865–210 on any airplane. 

FAA AD Differences 

Note 1: This AD differs from the MCAI 

and/or service information as follows: 

(1) The MCAI specifies that certain parts 

may not be installed after doing the 

modification. However, this AD specifies that 

those parts may not be installed as of the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) The applicability of the MCAI is limited 

to manufacturer serial numbers (MSN) 

equipped with Air Cruisers/Aerazur P/N 

D31865–109; P/N D31865–110; P/N D31865– 

209; or P/N D31865–210 OWS; however, this 

AD is applicable to all MSNs with the 

exception of airplanes delivered with Airbus 

Modification 30088 on which OWS having 

P/Ns D31865–111 and P/N D31865–112 are 

installed. 

(3) Although the applicability of the MCAI 

includes Model A318 series airplanes, the 

airplane models identified in the effectivity 

of Airbus Service Bulletin A320–25–1649, 

dated February 16, 2010, are limited to 

Model A319 and Model A320 series 

airplanes. Therefore, the applicability of this 

AD does not include Model A318 series 

airplanes. 

Other FAA AD Provisions 

(i) The following provisions also apply to 

this AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone (425) 227–1405; fax (425) 

227–1149. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

ANM-116-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 

Before using any approved AMOC, notify 

your appropriate principal inspector, or 

lacking a principal inspector, the manager of 

the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. The AMOC 

approval letter must specifically reference 

this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

Related Information 

(j) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2010–0210, dated October 21, 2010, 

corrected October 27, 2010; and Airbus 

Service Bulletin A320–25–1649, dated 

February 16, 2010; for related information. 

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67628 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 2, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 

21, 2011. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–28368 Filed 11–1–11; 8:45 a.m.] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–1188; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–SW–46–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Model 

204B, 205A, 205A–1, 205B, and 212 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This document proposes 

superseding four existing airworthiness 

directives (ADs) for the specified Bell 

model helicopters. Two of the existing 

ADs require an initial and repetitive 

inspection of certain part-numbered 

main rotor yokes installed on Bell 

Model 204B, 205A–1, and 212 

helicopters. Two other existing ADs also 

establish a retirement life of 3,600 hours 

time-in-service (TIS) for certain partnumbered main rotor yokes installed on 

the Bell Model 204, 205 series, and 212 

series helicopters. Those ADs were 

prompted by reports of cracks in the 

main rotor yoke (yoke). This action 

would retain the requirements of the 

existing ADs and would apply these 

inspections and retirement lives to 

additional part-numbered yokes. This 

action would also increase the 

inspection frequency for certain yokes 

installed on a Bell Model 205B or 212 

helicopter and would require replacing 

any unairworthy yoke. This proposal is 

prompted by the need to expand the 

applicability to include yokes produced 

under a Parts Manufacturing Approval 

(PMA) whose design approval was 

based on identicality with the affected 

Bell yoke parts and a recent discovery 

of a cracked yoke. The actions specified 

by the proposed AD are intended to 

prevent cracking of a yoke, failure of the 

yoke, and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before January 3, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

You may get the service information 

identified in this proposed AD from Bell 

Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, 

Fort Worth, TX 76101, telephone (817) 

280–3391, fax (817) 280–6466, or at 

http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Rotorcraft Certification Office, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137, telephone (817) 222–5170, fax 

(817) 222–5783. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any written 

data, views, or arguments regarding this 

proposed AD. Send your comments to 

the address listed under the caption 

ADDRESSES. Include the docket number 

‘‘FAA–2011–1188, Directorate Identifier 

2008–SW–46–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of the proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend the 

proposed AD in light of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed 

rulemaking. Using the search function 

of our docket web site, you can find and 

read the comments to any of our 

dockets, including the name of the 

individual who sent or signed the 

comment. You may review the DOTs 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477–78). 

Examining the Docket 

You may examine the docket that 

contains the proposed AD, any 

comments, and other information on the 

internet at http://www.regulations.gov 

or in person at the Docket Operations 

office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The Docket Operations office 

(telephone (800) 647–5527) is located in 

Room W12–140 on the ground floor of 

the West Building at the street address 

stated in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

Discussion 

On September 13, 1979, we issued AD 

79–20–05, Docket No. 79–ASW–25, 

Amendment 39–3572 (44 FR 55556, 

September 27, 1979) for Bell Model 

204B, 205A–1, and 212 helicopters. 

That AD requires an initial and 

repetitive inspection at 2,400-hour 

intervals and corrosion protection and 

sealing of the yoke, P/N 204–011–102, 

of the main rotor hub assembly (hub), 

P/N 204–012–101. We issued 

Amendment 39–3626, November 21, 

1979 (44 FR 70123, December 6, 1979) 

and Amendment 39–3662 January 3, 

1980 (45 FR 6922, January 31, 1980) to 

AD 79–20–05. The amendments to the 

AD deleted references to the radius in 

the bottom of the pillow block bushing 

holes because the cracks did not initiate 

there. The cracks originated in the side 

of the hole near the top or through the 

center section of the yoke adjacent to 

the data plate. 

On August 26, 1981, we issued AD 

81–19–01, Amendment 39–4207, Docket 

81–ASW–38 (46 FR 45595, September 

14, 1981) for Bell Model 212 series 

helicopters. We also issued AD 81–19– 

02, Amendment 39–4208, Docket 81– 

ASW–40 (46 FR 45595, September 14, 

1981) for Bell Model 204 and 205 series 

helicopters. These ADs established a 

retirement life of 3,600 hours TIS for 

certain yokes installed on these model 

helicopters. These yokes previously did 

not have a retirement life. AD 81–19–01 

also reduced the yoke retirement life 

below 3,600 hours TIS for those yokes 

installed on Model 212 helicopters used 

in external load operations involving 

more than four lifts per hour by 

requiring the operators to log additional 

hours for these type operations against 

the retirement life of the yoke. These 

ADs were prompted by three field 

reports of cracked yokes. These ADs 

were intended to establish retirement 

lives to prevent yoke failure and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

On March 4, 1993, we issued AD 93– 

05–01, Amendment 39–8507, Docket 

No. 92–ASW–13 (58 FR 13700, March 

15, 1993), for the Bell Model 212 

helicopters to require repetitive 

inspections of yoke, P/N 204–011–102 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS